Female politicians still face barriers, despite U.S. breakthrough

In spite of Hillary Clinton’s recent historic rise to become the Democratic presidential nominee in the United States, women still face challenges their male colleagues do not, local women politicians say.

A woman has never led either of the two major provincial parties in Saskatchewan, nor has one ever been elected as mayor of either of the province’s two largest cities.

Pat Atkinson, a former provincial MLA and cabinet minister, said Clinton’s achievement in becoming the first woman nominated for president by either of the two major American political parties represents an important breakthrough.

“There are a lot of women from my generation that cheered,” Atkinson said in an interview Thursday. “It’s remarkable and it sends a significant message across the globe.”

Atkinson added women still face hurdles in politics, noting, “There’s a certain demographic of men who have difficulty with a woman in power.”

Atkinson recalled meetings where men refused to acknowledge her, even though she held positions like finance minister and education minister in NDP governments. The same attitude is partly to blame for Clinton’s perceived unpopularity, she added.

Coun. Tiffany Paulsen, who has represented Saskatoon’s Ward 9 since 2000, agreed women politicians still face discrimination, such as commentary that focuses on their wardrobes.

Saskatchewan is even further behind, she added.

“I think the landscape is different in Saskatchewan,” Paulsen said in an interview. “Having said that, I think that in 2016 the opportunity is there.”

Paulsen, who will not seek re-election this fall, said she has been approached to run for mayor and she thinks a woman will be elected to the position in Saskatoon one day.

Atkinson said she thinks she will see a woman elected premier of Saskatchewan in her lifetime. Former Liberal leader Lynda Haverstock became leader of the Opposition for about six months in 1995 before resigning.

“Women have to be really, really good at what they do to get to the top of the political ladder,” said Atkinson, who has been considered a potential NDP leader.

Tina Beaudry-Mellor, who was elected as a Regina MLA in April, said she thinks gender is growing less relevant when it comes to political leadership.

Beaudry-Mellor said in Canada women encounter more barriers at the nomination level for political parties than they do trying to get people to vote for them.

The longtime University of Regina political studies instructor said just because a woman has not been elected premier of Saskatchewan does not mean progress is not being made. She noted women have been elected as mayors and leaders of municipalities, and to other political offices in Saskatchewan.

“I think it’s coming,” the rookie Saskatchewan Party MLA said. “I see shifts in the right direction.”

Saskatoon city councillor Pat Lorje, who was first elected to council in 1979 and has also served as a provincial NDP MLA and cabinet minister, called Clinton’s achievement “fantastic.”

“It’s long overdue,” Lorje said. “It’s your skill set that should matter, not your gender.”

Lorje noted that many American newspapers featured photos of Clinton’s husband, former U.S. president Bill Clinton, or her Republican adversary Donald Trump the day after she won the nomination this week.

Lorje agreed Saskatoon will one day elect a woman mayor. All three candidates competing for that office in October so far are men. Lorje was once seen as a favourite and encouraged to run for mayor in the 1990s while serving as an MLA.

Former Saskatoon city councillor Lenore Swystun finished second in the mayoral race behind Mayor Don Atchison in 2006 and 2009; longtime councillor Donna Birkmaier finished second to Jim Maddin in 2000.

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